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Tim Brausen

St. Louis Park, MN
Commenter for
4 years 38 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 01/26/11 at 03:08 pm in response to Tea party to GOP: Don't spare Pentagon from budget ax

I've said I'll support the first Tea Party member that tries to cut the Defense Dept. budget. This will be the test, to see if they are sincere about reducing the size of the federal government.

Posted on 01/26/11 at 02:41 pm in response to Rep. Michele Bachmann delivers Tea Party response to State of the Union

Hard to believe that she could be a serious candidate for anything.

Who writes these things for her? Is her name really "Congresswoman Michelle Bachman" or is she a Congresswoman named "Michelle Bachman?" From the opening chord this wrings wrong, but that continues to be all "right" with her legions of fans, the facts be damned. They hate government, and she hates government (her feeding at the public trough for the last decade or two notwithstanding) and that's all that matters...

Posted on 01/26/11 at 02:28 pm in response to Sorting out Obama's address -- and Bachmann's 'facts'

P.S. I thought the speech was good, a nice lecture, as Ms. Fraser noted.

Posted on 01/26/11 at 02:26 pm in response to Sorting out Obama's address -- and Bachmann's 'facts'

I like the fact that Obama has co-opted some of the code words and language of the right in framing his recommendations for action (that's all his budget can really be.) Sadly, those that have given up on Obama leave the door open for Pawlenty and his ilk, leaders that are truly mean-spirited and intentional in fostering a "it's money that matters" attitude.

Obama's Administration has worked to protect the environment, to coordinate transportation, housing and environmental...

Posted on 01/26/11 at 03:03 pm in response to Pawlenty video: No facts, logic, argument or analysis

Sadly, he's known in the past what sells to a plurality of voters: an insatiable desire to say No to progress of any type (except corporate and rich interests,) wrapped in hopeful and positive imagery.

Posted on 01/25/11 at 01:48 pm in response to Bachmann proposes $423 billion in federal budget cuts

When Rep. Bachman suggests slicing the US military budget of 2/3 Trillion dollars, with it's over 1000 overseas military installations, then I will believe that she and the Republicans are serious about budget reductions. Until then, it's symbolic cost-cutting, usually on the backs of those that most need our help.

Posted on 01/21/11 at 04:34 pm in response to To me, this poll's big finding: We like to whine

I think the American voter is very consistent: we hate whoever is in power and vote against them ("who elected these idiots, anyway?")

That's why in Minnesota we elect a Governor pledged to raise rich people's taxes and a Legislature pledged not to raise rich people's taxes. That's why we elect a President that pledges change, then when a Congress votes in the change we elect others who pledge to change things back. In northern Minnesota we vote out a Congressman who's been...

Posted on 01/17/11 at 01:31 pm in response to Law schools take hits in NYT; how are local four doing?

As a self-employed attorney of 30+ years experience who has never earned over $100,000/year and has earned less than $50,000 each of the past 4 years, I wish the students of the future all the luck in the world entering this field. A law degree gives you an entry into a profession that can be fascinating, diverse, challenging and gratifying, as a professional problem solver.

However, it is not a profession that guarantees anyone a living, much less a rich and lucrative career....

Posted on 01/17/11 at 01:11 pm in response to 'Call their bluff,' says Pawlenty on federal debt ceiling

Brian, the suggestion that he unallot the Pentagon budget is brilliant!

The biggest drain on the federal budget is the military-industrialist complex run amok, and even Obama hasn't had the temerity to rein it in, even slightly. With 2/3 trillion a year or more being spent on "defense" (funny, Canada seems to be very secure, and only spent $16.9 billion in 2009 for their security) by our "bloated" federal government, why doesn't a single candidate step forward and demand a 25%...

Posted on 12/22/10 at 02:43 pm in response to 2011 business legislative agenda: Jobs, redesign and a balanced budget — with a conciliatory tone

Even the Chambers best case scenario still includes "uncomfortable budget trade-offs" and falls over $1 billion short of closing the budget deficit. Yet these business leaders can't bring themselves to admit that the State ran much better 10 years ago, when the richest income-earners in the State paid a higher effective tax rate (rather than an effective rate that is currently lower than those in the middle tax brackets.)

It goes to prove the failure of the tax-cut model, that...