Is there a "Fear China!" campaign being floated from the right wing? Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Saint Paul Pioneer Press both ran very large ads accusing China of Harvesting Organs from living, breathing Falun Gong practitioners. The ads state that they are advertisements paid for by the Falun Gong, Twin Cities Club. They feature a grizzly photo and links to stories in the National Review on Line, The Washington Times and The Epoch Times. I suppose that the ads might be just a local expression of outrage by local Falun Gong members, but I am always suspicious. Are these ads appearing in papers around the United States? They are ¼ to ½ page, and must have cost a bundle to run. If you saw these ads in your paper too, please post the name of the paper, as well as any theories that you have about these ads. I am wondering if hating/fearing China is going to be part of our rational for invading Iran.

Coleen Rowley has the courage of her convictions. She is a hardworking candidate. And, she is a former Republican. Does anybody doubt that the future of the Democratic Party is not brightened by former Republicans? I hope America is full of former Republicans in 2006. And Minnesota's 2nd district is fertile ground for such a conversion.

I have observed Coleen Rowley with a critical eye for the last year, because I am a jealous lifelong Democrat. By chance, I saw her sit quietly in the Audience when I attended a speech by Howard Dean for the American Civil Liberties Union. I heard her on Air America Minnesota when many elected Democrats still feared the radical radio station. We all know she went to Camp Casey.

The critics want her to talk about "kitchen issues". She insists on speaking about defense and foreign policy.  

Where do we get more former Republicans?