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Hiram Foster

Crystal, MN
Commenter for
5 years 26 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 10/30/09 at 10:56 am in response to A new Vikings stadium? L.A. shows us how

"Stadiums have nothing to do with Democratic electoral failure or success."

No but shallowness of thinking, and the elitist dismissal of the serious concerns of others does. This is a serious issue to be discussed seriously. All Senator Marty is doing here is playing his quiche eating base which will elect him to the senate forever, and will never get him elected to anything else.

Posted on 10/30/09 at 05:52 am in response to A new Vikings stadium? L.A. shows us how

"Socialism for the rich is traditional,when applied to the middle class it is treasonous."

Possibly, but that's neither here nor there.

Sen. Marty wants to throw away an important asset to this community on the basis of reasoning where it exacts it all?

Putting aside for the moment that rather obvious observation that the way California does things really shouldn't serve as a model for anyone else these days, how could someone sit in the senate for as many decade as Sen...

Posted on 10/29/09 at 01:46 pm in response to A new Vikings stadium? L.A. shows us how

"Another facet of this debate is that IF Wilf did get his (primarily public financed) stadium, the value of his team and investment would rise exponentially."

Not necessarily, and certainly not exponentially. While the Vikings are more valuable with a new stadium than without one, the prospect of a stadium is enough in itself to jack up the value. And that new stadium doesn't need to be here.

"Thus, in effect, the taxpayers would be contributing hundreds of millions dollars...

Posted on 10/29/09 at 09:42 am in response to A new Vikings stadium? L.A. shows us how

"Private entertainment enterprise does not need to have its practically guaranteed profits subsidized by public tax dollars."

You are quite simply wrong. And there is nothing in the least private about professional sports franchises.

"how about we cut YOUR kid's art and music classes, put another 10 kids in his classroom, and don't fix the leaky roof on the building, just so a bunch of millionaires can play on real grass instead of fake 8 days a year.

That's a choice...

Posted on 10/29/09 at 07:04 am in response to A new Vikings stadium? L.A. shows us how

Just once, I would like to see John Marty take something other than the wimp position on a public issue. Maybe then, people would stop rolling their eyes when he enters the room.

Posted on 10/29/09 at 07:44 am in response to A new Vikings stadium? L.A. shows us how

"To put this into terms to which we can relate, Bagley wants taxpayers to subsidize each of the 65,000 seats at every Vikings home game to the tune of $77 per ticket. That is $77 in taxpayer money for each ticket, at every game, including preseason ones, for decades to come!"

Let's really do what Sen. Marty asks us to do in term with which we can relate. The senator says we will pay fifty million dollars a year in interest. Five million people live in Minnesota so that amounts to ten...

Posted on 10/29/09 at 06:20 am in response to Taylor on Star Tribune investment: No 'miracle solution,' but many ideas

"I think it's a relatively easy decision on their part," Taylor observes. "They can go either way — sell it or hold long-term for equity."

Taylor is right of course. The real question isn't whether the Strib will accept the money, of course they will. As Taylor hints above, equity in the Star Tribune probably doesn't exist in the long term. The question is why are Taylor and Opperman offering it?

Posted on 10/28/09 at 10:41 am in response to Prospective Star Tribune investors Opperman and Taylor: spending millions to influence politics

It's doubtful that purchasing a minority interest in the heavily indebted Strib will give Opperman any influence at all in the running of the company, and that's certainly true if the present trends continue.

The Opperman offer values Strib equity at 27 million dollars (all ballpark figures) a reduction from the previously tossed around figure of 125 million. I believe that if business doesn't turn around quickly, that equity figure will be quickly reduced to zero, the company will...

Posted on 10/28/09 at 10:51 am in response to DFLer Opperman, Republican Taylor team up to be Star Tribune minority owners

I notice also that according to the original Strib story, that Vance is offering something that is valued at $6.25 million to $8.75 million which at least suggests to me that he isn't offering cash.

Posted on 10/28/09 at 08:38 am in response to DFLer Opperman, Republican Taylor team up to be Star Tribune minority owners

"Phelps says the duo's cash will buy 25 to 33 percent of the company, but amounts to only 5-7 percent of the reported $125 million equity."

Maybe the equity isn't anything at all like what's being reported. Equity is worth what someone is willing to pay for it, and the Opperman offer is just bringing home the extremely grim reality.

"It's still probably better to hold the Strib's loans ($100 million) than its equity."

In bankruptcy, which the Star Tribune will never be...