Your humble ink-stained wretch can't provide a yes or no answer to the headline question. But I've been talking to some of my best sources, especially in Republican circles. And based on what they tell me, I am increasingly convinced that when the answer is knowable (and some of them think it already is), the answer will be: No.

Related slideshow: Al Franken Capitol rally

Kurt Zellers means business. At least that's what emerges when you talk to the new Republican minority leader for the Minnesota House.

Just because Congress is taking a holiday recess doesn't mean members aren't working on health reform. Some are holding town-hall forums, and others are looking at language for a public plan. Meanwhile, Wal-Mart upset trade groups by supporting a federal mandate for large employers to provide health insurance to employees.

While the pitching staff was thriving in June, the team's offense ranked just 10th in the 14-team league in runs — a decline by 40 percent from the lineup's otherworldly May performance. Adding a higher-caliber second baseman and a strong reliever would go a long way in helping the team compete.

That graciousness shown by former Sen. Norm Coleman Tuesday was not being echoed by top Republican leaders Wednesday afternoon. Tony Sutton, the new party chair of the state Republican Party, and the party’s new deputy chairman, Michael Brodkorb, say they believe the party only needs to make Minnesotans understand the righteousness of the true conservative message and voters will flock to Republican candidates.

Minnesotans — and the nation — can expect to see the "un-Al." As much as he'll tilt toward the left, he might sway toward Minnesota-style boredom, at least at the start. Advisers say he'll focus on concerns that matter to Minnesotans and will try to emulate the best qualities of such former senators as Paul Wellstone, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Bradley.

"That was hard," admits Olga Viso when asked how she found time to polish a 300-page scholarly tome while also juggling her many duties as director of the Walker Art Center. The book, "Unseen Mendieta" (Prestel, 2008), presents hundreds of images relating to the Cuban-American artist's work, none of which has been available to the public.
FROM TWIN CITIES DAILY PLANET

Just over 100 community members attended a recent public meeting at the Midtown Global Market to submit their comments and questions on Xcel Energy’s Hiawatha Project. The project poses several routes for a new 115 kilovolt transmission line stretching between two new substations at Hiawatha Avenue and Portland Avenue South. Xcel’s preferred route follows the Midtown Greenway, a former railroad corridor and current non-motorized bike path.
FROM TWIN CITIES DAILY PLANET