CD8 DFL - Something not seen in prior reporting. It will be either two or three candidates in a primary.

PiPress, here, stating in part:

The stalemate at the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party’s 8th District convention in Duluth saw the field whittled from five to two, but returned no endorsed candidate.

The 170 delegates failed to give Leah Phifer or Joe Radinovich the party’s nomination after 10 rounds of voting, putting the party on course for an August primary election between Phifer, Radinovich and a defiant Michelle Lee, who was the only one of three deposed candidates who vowed to continue in the race. Jason Metsa and North Branch Mayor Kirsten Kennedy both said they would fold up their campaigns.

“Unfortunately, mine’s not moving forward,” Metsa, the state representative from Virginia, told the assembled delegates.

So Metsa suspends his congressional run and will concentrate on reelection to the legislative seat he holds. His FEC filings indicate he will not be pressed for cash to run the legislative campaign. Details of how the money will be repurposed from federal to state intent may exist, but they are apart from the CD8 representative question.

With Metsa's move, Michelle Lee might be a spoiler to take votes away from Phifer, if Phifer chooses to contest a primary, or to be a main challenger to Radinovich if Phifer defers from the primary.

It is now, wait and see. Phifer, not Lee, holds the DFL Environmental Caucus endorsement. Lee as a late entrant has not had the same late entrant traction Radinovich achieved, with Rick Nolan's blessing.

Reko Diq Balochistan - and why should you care?

It is dry barren land with no water flows below ground to cause worry and with no nearby wetlands and lakes in danger. Images online, here and here.

They have no thriving taconite industry. But reserves to boast of. Mineral wealth and natural gas.

It is where copper sulfide mining can be carried out with minimal risk, and it is an economy far less prosperous than the regions of Minnesota where taconite supports the local economy.

This link. Here.

One CD8 DFL candidate has been vocal of the needs of copper for generators and motors, for renewable energy and electric powered clean transportation. True enough but the hand-waving starts after that about doing it in high-risk pristine water-rich lands in Minnesota for a handful of jobs but high profits to mining interests and large campaign funding of political expediency in tune with mining interest aims.

Have a look. Read this full item. Anyone saying there's less sense mining copper in this barren waterless terrain vs Minnesota lake country is either blind or insincere.

So, what's the story? And the Canadians, while behind mining adventure suggestions in CD8 know of this more fitting area to mine, same source - read the text beneath the image:

Get real!

If the Pakistanis are more protective of their land's resources against exploitation than tom bakk or Justin Perpich, I'm not responsible for that imbalance, nor is the DFL Environmental Caucus. The easiest marks will be the ones exploited first and most and brazenly with no remorse.

There is plenty of copper where there is less of a risk.

At or before the CD8 DFL convention a "Latino Caucus" letter surfaced critical of Leah Phifer. A copy was obtained, and is presented.

Rather than an email screenshot, the text is presented by cut/paste below:

From: Latino DFL Caucus
Date: Tue, Apr 10, 2018 at 8:38 PM
Subject: For immediate release: Latino DFL Caucus statement re: CD8 candidate Leah Phifer
To: Undisclosed recipients


"April 7th, 2018

Latino DFL Caucus Statement Against U.S. Congressional Candidate Leah Phifer

We, the Latino DFL Caucus, take seriously our job of advocating for Latino interests and policy positions within the DFL Party. We focus on increasing Latino participation within the DFL and advocate for Latino rights regardless of citizenship status to make the party and our state more inclusive.

It is because of our goals that we ask those of you in Congressional District 8 to stand with us against Leah Phifer’s candidacy.

Too many families have been torn apart at the hands of ICE and endorsing Leah Phifer, a former ICE agent who played a direct role in the deportation and separation of families, goes against the values of our party.

The DFL cannot afford to endorse a candidate with a history of breaking up families. Doing so would ostracize members of the Latino community and undermine its loyal support for the party.

We are asking you and the DFL to deny Leah Phifer an endorsement. We urge you to endorse a candidate in the race who can bring us together - our party is strong because of our diversity.

Respectfully,

The Latino DFL Caucus
Rebecca Diaz Luebbert and Miguel Morales, Co-chairs"

The date received, Apr 10 differs from the email heading, "April 7th." It is signed by "co-chairs." I am curious of the history of this, whether it was sent to a mailing list of convention delegates, and if so, who provided the "Latino Caucus" the list; and when was notice of the issuance of the item called to the attention of the Phifer Campaign. It surely is on the eve of the Apr 14 Saturday convention, so lead time "Latino Caucus" voting and/or decision making on issuance of an item against one candidate of several would be of interest. Also, whether any of the other campaigns, Rick Nolan, or any CD8 DFL officer, including but not limited to Justin Perpich, had any input or influence over the wording, issuance timing, or circulation of the item.

An attempt will be made at email contact with the Latino DFL Caucus per the email address within the item. Reporting of the result of inquiry, if any, will follow.

That line: "To: Undisclosed recipients" makes it unclear whether press was sent copies, CD8 DFL officials, Ken Martin, the Pope, whoever. An inquiry to obtain a distribution list will be part of the attempt to better understand the mechanism of generation and usage of this letter against one of several candidates. The candidacy started a bit less than a year ago, with ample time to have addressed concerns with the Phifer before an eleventh hour production and distribution. Issuance of such an item without prior contact with the candidate/campaign seems unusual and unprofessional. They are in the same party together and normal courtesies would be expected.

___________UPDATE_____________
Most curious, while dated Apr 7, the Phifer hit-piece came out in circulation, as forwarded to me, Arp 10; the precise date when the Environmental Caucus endorsed Phifer; ECM Publishers reporting:

Phifer endorsed for Congress in Congressional District 8 -- Apr 10, 2018

The DFL Environmental Caucus today announced its decision to endorse Leah Phifer for Congress in Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District.

"Leah Phifer knows firsthand that the economy of Minnesota’s 8th District is rooted both in the mining and the recreation, tourism and service industries,” said caucus chair, Veda Kanitz. “She understands that strong environmental protections and a 21st century workforce will both be required for every corner of the district to thrive.”

“We were impressed with her commitment to creating clean energy jobs across the Eighth as part of the fight against climate change,” Kanitz said. “We also were impressed with her recognition of the special threats that water-based copper-nickel mining poses to the district’s water resources and its communities. We appreciate her call for caution and due process with this new kind of mining.”

[...] The Environmental Caucus endorsement process involved several steps, including the evaluation of candidate positions on transportation, environmental justice, climate change, clean water, agriculture, mining, pipelines and citizen engagement. Candidates Leah Phifer, Joe Radinovich, Kirstin Kennedy and Michele Lee were considered.

The Environmental Caucus followed an orderly process, professionally, as the reporting noted. They deliberated, and only Mesta's was a DOA candidacy.

In short, the hope is Phifer in her present deliberations decides to not let the Environmental Caucus down and instead plunges with renewed vigor into a primary contest against the arrayed pro-risky sulfide mining candidacies of all but Phifer and Michelle Lee.

Reaction of those willing to put the Boundary Waters at risk for hundreds of years of potential sulfide pollution over ICE status; and to so decide on the eve of a convention when another DFL caucus was duly and openly deliberating, in effect to ally with the pro-polluter forces, to drop a surprise, is sad. It stands as a Latino Caucus alliance with Mesta and in spirit with Stauber, but more so with (and possibly in touch with) the Perpich/Nolan/Radinovich pro-sulfide mining troika, and that possibility is a worry.

Upset minds are out there over Phifer's candidacy putting Nolan on the spot and being a factor in his demurring to continue a reelection effort, leading to the surrogate Radonivich candidacy being promptly advanced after Nolan's withdrawal notice.

Might there have been coordinaiton of an opposition campaign with the two co-chairs of the DFL Latino Caucus?

How would we in the public, including the voters of the Eighth District know if any coordination happened? Indeed, there perhaps even might have been an instigation at a surprisingly late date from outside the Lation Caucus, to raise a tardy objection without any prior notice to Phifer of any such concern? Anything is possible. If coordination of such kind happened, would it be publicly disclosed, or closely guarded and publicly denied?

Might there be touchstone facts suggesting at worse a coordinated series of steps?

The first and immediate question: Were rank and file Latino Caucus members even consulted before the co-chairs wrote; and why would such a step not have been done early in the Phifer candidacy? It started in the middle of last year.

In good faith, sooner is always better? It looks better. It is better. The process of that attack letter, as well as its substance, deserves attention of discerning activists.

[FURTHER: Apologies to the gentleman, his name is Metsa, not Mesta, and the error escaped initial edit attention.]

Well it wasn't Scott Pruitt. Nor Steve Bannon. Nor Robert Mercer. Jarad looks different - a thinner face.

Strib, carrying an AP wire feed.

An image. Nah . . .

Great news! One of the best and brightest to upgrade the Minnesota Supremes!

Paul Thissen. Dayton still has good judgment in him and proves it. All those saying it was Tina's doing did a disservice.

Strib reports. With all the Blue Money Wave stuff happening here and there; one very decent thing to brighten the day.

Minnesota Governor Contest: Corporatists take over money race, both parties. Really quick for Republicans. Steadily so for Democrats.

Strib links: Republicans. Both parties. The GOP base, takes gas. Progressives, less so. The carpet bagger from DC bank lobbying did his thing. With that insincere smile; the Sam's Club new outfit; the toxic resume. Jeff Johnson won't you please come home.

Otto and Erin Murphy are not being scuttled, despite Walz having money bags fuller than the two put together.

If there is that Blue Wave, it might not be my Blue Wave; it might be the moneyed Blue Wave; those on the Dem side of things who benefit most from the Ryan tax cut monstrosity. Sad!

UPDATE: At least on the DFL side, the money front runner is not repulsive. Not so, the Republicans.

Who are these people and are they the best and brightest? Is Justin Perpich badge heavy?

[NOTE: 2:10 PM 4/17/2018 - the post was revised and extended]

All on the Iron Range love taconite. Taconite mining is not sulfide mining. They are different animals. One being established and an economic anchor, the other being more risk than merit. Watch this YouTube CD8 candidate forum sulfide mining
segment.

After the wholly messed up CD8 DFL convention, the question of who are the CD8 DFL inner party ones, and are they a sound bunch - or mining tools - is fair game.

That gets to examining an under the radar (except for "up there on the range") dustup from last autumn.

In it Justin Perpich comes out looking less than spectacular, arguably far less with the term manipulative hack coming to mind; read of it here, here, here. If not reading or consulting the links, the remainder of the post will lack clarity. So read.

Justin Perpich took a big swing at Duluth for Clean Water, links here and here. Perpich took a clearly off-record and heated private exchange of views public as part of his big swing. That is what the above three links in harmony show.

For a context, two images, the first from DFCW, the last indirectly so, Duluth News Tribune, this link. If not getting the drift of the dustup context from that, quit reading. Back to the dustup detail, Perpich claimed DFCW was at fault for late filing of a disclosure report, with how he reportedly phrased things being the question:

The organization, which has publicly endorsed three City Council candidates, came under fire for failing to file the report on time. This led to claims by 8th Congressional District DFL Chairman Justin Perpich of the group being a "dark money non-profit."

[...] DFCW co-organizer John Doberstein says the report filing was late because the group's attorney was out of town on a personal matter.

'Duluth for Clean Water’s second campaign filing was made at the Duluth City Clerk’s office this morning. The report shows $521 in cash contributions for the period from June 10 to September 11, 2017, with $284.63 in disbursements, and $476.37 cash on hand. The initial filing made June 9, 2017, showed $1,000 in contributions, $760 in disbursements ($300 to Updegrove for Duluth and $300 to Kennedy for Duluth), and $240 cash on hand.

[...] 'We hope this puts to rest the disingenuous attacks from 8th CD DFL Chair Justin Perpich,' said John Doberstein, co-lead organizer for Duluth for Clean Water. 'We’re proud of our 100% volunteer efforts to protect Lake Superior, and it’s disappointing that Mr. Perpich seems more interested in pursuing a pro-Glencore/PolyMet agenda than he is in doing his job as Chair of the 8th CD DFL, which is to bring people together. We appreciate all of the support we’ve received,including from Council President Joel Sipress, who clearly has Duluth's best interests in mind.'

Nailing things down a bit more, the Duluth for Clean Water’s Facebook website presents a Duluth New Tribune's screenshot, with this caption:

Duluth for Clean Water -- April 13 at 10:28am
The DFL CD8 Convention is this Weekend. Here is the DNT's issue breakdown of the 5 candidates vying for endorsement. Note the author refers to three of the candidates as "all-in" on PolyMet, and two candidates (Leah Phifer and Michelle Lee) as "taconite only."

"All in" includes Nolan's acolyte and former campaign manager, Joseph Radinovich who left a St. Paul consultancy when Nolan decided to demur and before the tires cooled he was back home on the Range strutting around as a Nolan surrogate candidate. Pro-sulfide mining per the DNT screenshot DFCW posted (If you viewed that candidate forum YouTube link given under the opening image and thought you smelled some waffles cooking, congrats, gold star - make it copper star - you are not mining's fool.)

Back to Justin Perpich: Apart from Polymet love and Polymet critic hate, while Radinovich entered as Nolan's surrogate candidate Perpich was a Nolan cheerleader after the Emmer-Nolan monkey business put Nolan on the defensive, (justly defensive in the minds of many but not Perpich); this link, word search "Perpich," and form your own opinion. But understand Perpich is a Rick Nolan head-to-toe acolyte and hanger-on:

Justin Perpich

Legislative and Political Organizer
Duluth, Minnesota Area
Political Organization

Current
AFGE, Coalition to Draft Rick Nolan Governor

Previous
Rick Nolan for Congress, DCCC, Minnesota House DFL Caucus

Education
University of Wisconsin-Superior

That being quoted from Justin Pipich LinkedIn disclosure-tout.

Interestingly, Justin Perpich reportedly did run, once, for elective office, failing to convince voters he was school board material.

Perpich has now moved from Nolan=Guv to Walz=Guv, as one among many who presently endorse Walz, this link. Unlike per the earlier Nolan testing of gubernatorial waters, Perpich has no declared tie to the Walz campaign, that arguably being in Walz' favor.

Doesn't the guy like Becky Otto? Gee. What about nursing leader and legislator Erin Murphy? Probably he's less than akin with wanting prograss since Our Revolution endorsed Otto and Murphy, as well as Phifer for CD8, not Nolan's Radinovich guy. Vice versa, Our Revolution seems not affectionate toward young Perpich. Is a broom needed up there in CD8 affairs; or put tom bakk into it and say a mucking of the stable? (some do not deserve capitalization of their names)

Taking off the record stuff public is work of a spoiled brat. A Twitter twit to boot, using social media to a fault. His taking off-record discord public is what the September DFCW dustup was about. It was unprofessional to take it public and then to yin and yang sanctimoniously.

Last, is Perpich a mining whore? In deciding consider this, stating in part:

Duluth, MN (Oct. 13, 2017) — In response to yesterday’s New York Times Magazine story, titled “In Northern Minnesota, Two Economies Square Off: Mining vs. Wilderness,” Minnesota 8th Congressional District DFL Chair Justin Perpich released the following statement:

“Yesterday’s story from the New York Times Magazine included numerous divisive statements from self-identified leaders of the environmental/anti-mining movement on the Iron Range. These statements were cruel, excessive, and do not reflect the community values we hold dear on the Iron Range. [...]

“What the Iron Range needs are good-paying jobs. Jobs that support entire families. Jobs that let you buy a snowmobile to navigate our world-class trails, or a new rifle to hunt in our expansive forests. The truth is this: a tourism-dependent economy does not produce these types of jobs. We need a diverse economy, one where miners, the creative class, and environmentalists can live together and thrive.”

“The DFL is a party that welcomes individuals from all walks of life, promoting constructive discussions on the various issues that confront our communities on the Iron Range, the 8th Congressional District, and across Minnesota. [... a/k/a jobs?].”

[bolding and italics added] He, bakk, rukavina and tomassoni could be a barbershop quartet unendingly singing, "Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, ...". There is more to life than whoring to rapacious mining interests that way. Perpich has the family's name, but what, if anything, else?

Between the ears?

........................................................
Joseph Radinovich - his money
FEC links, here, here and here, indicating 2017-2018 having raised over a hundred and eight grand; no source date found.

Joseph Radinovich - his campaign website
Issues: https://www.joeradinovichforcongress.com/issues/
Contact: https://www.joeradinovichforcongress.com/contact/

Look at that Issues page, in light of the foregoing, is there something lacking? Believing so, I used the second link, giving my email address twice, writing:

Where are you coming from on the sulfide mining question?

On your website issues page it looks as if you dog whistle by starting "Jobs" but you never answer the question directly.

I blog and intend to write about your answer, or lack of one, however it shakes out.

If not getting an email at the address I presented in sending this by the end of this week I presume you care not to answer, and will presume from there, it being guesswork if you remain reticent.

I am a Leah Phifer supporter, so you've fair disclosure. Now you are asked to disclose, please.

[...]@gmail.com

A man of conscience and courage would not duck definitively going on record over the key issue, and if not that, why should anyone vote for the guy? I await a response. Hopefully he in reply can point to an online link where he has answered the question not just for me, but for the voting public of Minnesota's CD8. Less than that would be a disappointment.

.................................................
Pro-sulfide mining Jason Metsa - his money; see, here and here, as with Radinovich, no detail on who chipped in.

.................................................
Leah Phifer - her money; here and here; itemized, and showing her strong efforts from earlier than the pro-sulfide mining pair entered the contest (and while tardy still raking in substantially more cash), with Phifer's campaigning against Nolan and aiming to show strongly in the endorsement process leaving her going into the primary with low reserves; so contribute folks, it is needed.

.................................................
Michelle Lee - her money; curiously entering about the time Radinovich and Metsa did, but not a mining maven, her totals were lower than the other three; see, here and here. As with Phifer, she is left with little in reserve.

The mining tools have the cash, the opponents of profligate mining suffer. Gee. Strange world, eh?

................................................
Kirsten Kennedy - her money; here, hardly enough raised to be a player and while pro-sulfide mining, the money's gone to the men. Yet she is the third woman in things, and to the extent there is gender-vote splitting, the guys can smile, 2 against 3. It looks set up for bad things in CD8 if Phifer and/or Lee do not go to a primary.

LATEST NEWS: This DNT link. The DFL Latino Caucus seems to have been primed to poison Phifer's well, but was low profile until the endorsing convention in striking from the weeds:

While Phifer’s supporters appear ardent, stiff opposition to her candidacy had been brewing throughout the weeks leading up to the 8th DFL convention. The DFL Latino Caucus asked for the party to deny Phifer the endorsement for starting her 10-year federal law enforcement career with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Latino Caucus blames ICE for breaking up families, and said in a letter that Phifer’s association with ICE “goes against the values of the DFL.”

It is vexing when this "letter" is mentioned without a date given for its generation; suggesting it is a recently engineered event step.

Dirty pool or not, it hurt. Phifer is taking a two week sabatical to weigh whether to advance to the primary or suspend the campaign:

The leader in delegate voting throughout last weekend’s 8th Congressional District DFL convention may not be moving to the primary this summer.

Leah Phifer told the News Tribune on Monday she will take the next two weeks off from campaigning and fundraising to decide whether to file for the primary.

“We’re giving ourselves until the end of April,” she said. “We want to do what’s best for the district.”

Phifer won on all 10 delegate ballots at Saturday’s convention in Duluth, but she fell short of the 60 percent delegate threshold the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party requires for endorsement — topping out at 52 percent. Phifer explained her candidacy was always reliant on and respectful of an endorsement and that she never planned to go to a primary.

[...] Phifer, of Isanti, said she believes she’s paying a price for challenging incumbent Rep. Rick Nolan and that some blame her for pressing Nolan into retirement at the end of the term. Nolan endorsed her closest challenger, Joe Radinovich, of Crosby, with a statement midway through the weekend’s convention.

“You may have observed some of the dynamics playing out in the district — something we’ve been up against for a while,” Phifer said. “I think people who didn’t want Congressman Nolan to retire partially blame me for that. They’ve teamed up with people outside the district to provide a front that’s distracting from the real issues in the 8th District. I don’t want that. There are very real issues affecting the district.”

Radinovich, State Rep. Jason Metsa, of Virginia, Michelle Lee, of Moose Lake, and North Branch Mayor Kirsten Kennedy have all said they will take their campaigns into the August 14 DFL primary election.

With Lee committed to go to a primary on name recognition and hopes to raise cash, she would be the obvious choice for the Our Revolution supporters to choose, if Phifer's not in the primary. Anything to scuttle the Metsa cabal, and the Nolan cabla (via surrogates). They suck. Moreover, neither would have the vote-pulling power to defeat Stauber. Phifer could. Lee might. Two quality women.

Phifer has the DFL Environmental Caucus endorsement.

____________UPDATE____________
To quell any uncertainty, as a CD6 Anoka County resident I have no ties whatsoever to Duluth for Clean Water. I learned of them when researching the Nolan - surrogate/acolyte network, per a websearch return grouping about young Perpich violating an implicit off record exchange.

He seems aggressive, with that making up for moderate wisdom. Little wisdom. A bare smidgen of wisdom. Barbarian cunning, that perhaps, but it differs from wisdom. He overreacted to somebody telling him his pro-sulfide mining advocacy went too far in characterizing a grassroots operation wrongly when he full well had to know DFCW was exactly that and not some Twin Cities netro-area nefarious conspiracy.

Pettiness can show many ways, that being one.

Ever since Miles Lord wrote the Reserve Mining decision I have had respect for Lord's perspective and his work, and for the big lake's pure water. Miles Lord is missed, and will continue to be. Back when Vento and Fraser were protecting the Boundary Waters via wilderness designation by statute, Oberstar in opposition and in alliance with the wrong side of that argument, awareness of the ulterior interests using the jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs mantra for the benefit of the dark side of the force was understood. They should grow up and stop.

Oberstar will be missed less than Miles Lord or Bruce Vento, ya betcha.